Marc Cucurella has made a very honest admission about the role he played during Chelsea’s explosive brawl with West Ham players last week.
The feisty clash at Stamford Bridge erupted into chaos in second-half stoppage time after Adama Traore threw Cucurella to the floor by the corner flag.
While both sets of players brawled in a huge melee, West Ham star Jean-Clair Todibo grabbed Joao Pedro by the throat and was subsequently sent off by referee Anthony Taylor following a VAR check.
Cucurella and Traore have now both opened up on the tempestuous incident, appearing together on a podcast less than a week after Chelsea’s 3-2 win.
Appearing on the Spanish TV program ‘Fanzone’, Cucurella said, jokingly: ‘Joao Pedro saved my life, honestly, if I were Joao, I would have run backwards.
‘It was towards the end of the game. I put my body in a bit, we scuffled, and at one point I stood up and saw I was very close to him.
‘So I thought, “I’ll stick my head out a little and see if I can stir things up” and then he grabbed me, pulled me down, and a real scuffle broke out.’
Traore, meanwhile, said: ‘It was just the heat of the moment during the match, nothing more. I personally ran into Marc and I know he’s a good guy and it’s nothing personal, it all stays on the field.’
Making light of the scuffle, Cucurella added: ‘Now I’m calm because there’s a screen between us!’
The Spaniard’s admission comes just hours after the Premier League released Refcam footage of the game, showcasing how tensions rose between the two London clubs throughout the game.
The Hammers took a two-goal lead into half time thanks to Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, but Chelsea fought back well in the second half through Pedro and Cucurella.
Enzo Fernandez scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 92nd minute to hand Liam Rosenior’s side a late victory, marking a third Premier League win on the spin.
Todibo later issued an apology to West Ham fans on social media after his red card in the closing stages of the game.
‘Under the tension and intensity of the match, I made an inappropriate gesture, contrary to the values of football,’ Todibo wrote.
‘I fully acknowledge my mistake, without excuse or justification, and I take responsibility.
‘This behaviour does not reflect who I am as a person.
‘I sincerely apologise to my club, my team-mates, our supporters, and anyone who may have been affected by this gesture.’
